I participated in the development of EVA

Except for some crazy people, any normal-minded human being would be worried when discovering an alien civilization.

Has the other party discovered us?

Will the other side attack us?"

Professor Yamaki asked before Ikari Yui could speak.

"Not necessarily. There will always be a difference between strong and weak civilizations. If we have the power to destroy the other side, then no matter what we do, the benefits will be higher than destroying it directly."

Fumihiko Ikari looked at the EVA testing machine.

"Could you have imagined that humans could develop something like this two years ago? Not to mention two years ago, even now, can you know how advanced technology will be in ten years? When humans send out fleets to travel in space, are you so sure that the other side will not do the same thing in a short period of time?

What's more, in terms of the scale of the universe, even if the distance between two civilizations is only 4.2 light years, they travel at one tenth the speed of light.

Without taking into account the factors of replenishing energy, accelerating, adjusting the orbit... these factors are bound to exist, it will take at least 40 years to reach the other civilization. Taking those factors into account, it will take at least 100 years of sailing. With such a long time scale, can we still control the situation when the fleet arrives!? No, even -

The fleet was discovered and destroyed by the enemy midway, and arrived at the Earth along the route.

This is only 4.2 light years. What if the scale is magnified to dozens or hundreds of light years? "

Professor Yamaki continued to refute.

"Not only is the other party making progress, but we are also not wasting our time."

Ikari Fumihiko nodded.

"That's right. Are you sure we will be the winner of this arms race? Even if we are, the other party will not counterattack when they sense that they are about to perish, and broadcast the Earth's coordinates indiscriminately to attract a third party, or even a fourth or fifth party... In that situation, how can you ensure that we will not be eliminated?

Except for the discovery and destruction, the risks and unknowns of any other options are too great for decision makers to adopt.”

The Dark Forest Law is not perfect, but a concept based on certain assumptions.

What he is doing now is not to convince everyone, but just to divert everyone's attention.

Ikari Yui retorted with a frown on her face.

"This is just your assumption. It doesn't prove anything."

Seeing that everyone was thinking about whether the Dark Forest Law was valid, Fumihiko Ikari realized that his strategy had been successful.

But he played the whole game and asked back immediately.

"Besides that, can you explain why this monster came to Earth?"

This theory was so dark and so hopeless that Ikari Yui wanted to overturn it. Feeling the gazes from everyone around her, Ikari Yui opened her mouth and wanted to say -

The apostles have lived on Earth since ancient times, earlier than any other creatures on Earth.

Finally got control of myself.

Because this content involves the Dead Sea Scrolls, which are organizational secrets, how could these confidential contents be leaked just because Fumihiko Ikari proposed a concept of the social form of the universe?

"Just because I can't explain it doesn't mean this hypothesis is valid."

Fumihiko Ikari is already prepared for Yui Ikari to suffer from dementia.

Life on Earth did originate from outer space, but can meteorites containing organic compounds be compared to monsters like the Apostles?

The apostles are not life forms that can be naturally nurtured in an environment like the Earth.

Professor Yamaki spoke again.

“It doesn’t mean it’s not true.”

After looking at Professor Yamaki in surprise, Ikari Yui realized that he wanted to use the Dark Forest Law to re-tighten the spring that had been slightly relaxed due to the success of the test machine.

Naoko Akagi also reacted.

"Whether right or wrong, this can serve as a warning."

Just as Ikari Yui was about to say something, the alarm suddenly sounded, causing the scene to become chaotic.

Fumihiko Ikari was the first to react from the panic. He turned his head to look at the central screen in front of the console. At this time, the calm expression on the face of the Ayanami-style clone in the screen disappeared, and was replaced by a look of intense pain. He immediately asked the panicked team member in front of the console anxiously.

"What's going on now?"

"Pulse countercurrent, third stage abnormality—"

As these words were uttered, the image on the central screen disappeared, and the situation inside the insertion bolt could no longer be observed.

"The monitoring signal was interrupted for unknown reasons——"

At the same time, Eva, who had been like a puppet, came to life, howling through the head armor, and used both hands to try to break free from the restraints of the replica of the Spear of Longinus.

"The central nervous system begins to produce a rejection reaction—"

Every piece of information was reported to Ikari Fumihiko. At this time, Akagi Naoko should have been in command, but Ikari Fumihiko simply ignored this point.

The order was issued beyond the authority.

"Stop contact, close circuits one to six, and cut off the central neuron connection... No! Directly activate the emergency termination protocol--"

In order to prevent accidents, Fumihiko Ikari specially added an emergency termination agreement.

As the power was cut off, everything returned to calm.

The test machine has no internal power supply. Once the external power supply is cut off, the link device will be powered off.

After the mental link was broken, the testing machine naturally stopped. At this time, one of its arms had broken free from the cross, and all the additional restraints were destroyed. The other arm was also half free. The body tilted forward and slid down from the cross little by little under the influence of gravity. Not long after, it was completely detached from the cross and fell to the ground.

"What are you still standing there for? Pop out the plug!"

The insertion bolt ejection and insertion is a self-contained power supply unit.

As the insertion bolt popped out, Ikari Fumihiko was anxious to rush over to save people, but was stopped by Ikari Yui.

"You don't know how to do underwater rescue, so getting close to them will only cause more trouble."

The test machine was immersed in LCL liquid, but it was not powered and therefore could not provide oxygen. Diving equipment had to be used to rescue people.

Without the need for anyone to give orders, the on-site personnel carried out the rescue in an orderly manner. The diver immediately dived into the water with the rescue equipment, hung the hook, and used the starting crane to pull the insertion bolt out of the water.

Fumihiko Ikari anxiously moved closer, and a wave of heat suddenly hit his face. Without thinking, he prepared to force open the gate with both hands.

"You are going crazy!"

Ikari Yui grabbed Ikari Fumihiko in time.

As soon as Ikari Fumihiko broke free from Ikari Yui's pull, the staff nearby handed him the tools.

When designing it, he thought of a similar scene that appeared in the original work, so Fumihiko Ikari asked someone to design a set of special tools, and they were electric tools.

Insert the device and press the button.

The insertion gate was opened in just a few seconds, and the petite body of the Linghai-style clone appeared in Fumihiko Ikari's field of vision.

He was carried out and handed over to the paramedics.

041. Only suitable for academic research

After taking a look at the data from the medical equipment, I found that all the values ​​were within the normal range, and I felt a little relieved.

However, Fumihiko Ikari still had to follow him to the medical room.

But he was stopped by Ikari Yui.

Ikari Fumihiko pushed Ikari Yui away, but this time he didn't chase after her. Instead, he spoke.

"You were inconvenienced in the past."

"Where?"

I blurted out the question without thinking in my haste, but I realized what was happening the moment I asked it.

It is a laboratory that studies human cloning.

Ikari Fumihiko stopped in his tracks. His inner awareness was not enough to allow him to face such a thing.

Ikari Yui obviously doesn't want too many people to know about the cloning experiment. This research is too sensitive. For most people, human deaths in experimental research are acceptable because it is a sacrifice for the future of mankind. Even further human body modification can be barely accepted. However, cloning research really touches the bottom line of most people.

Seeing that Ikari Fumihiko had already reacted, Ikari Yui did not explain it clearly.

"Don't worry, there is a professional medical team over there."

"..."

Ikari Fumihiko hesitated and was still worried.

In the original work, Seele's attitude towards the Reiwa-style clones was to treat them as replaceable exclusive accessories for Unit-0.

The attitude of the Seele top brass towards the Limbo-style clones can be seen simply from the use of the parallel consciousness phenomenon of a large number of Limbo-style clones as a medium to remotely control EVA's puppet system.

Noticing Ikari Fumihiko's retreat, Professor Yamamoto added coldly.

"We need to collect relevant experimental data and will not give up her life easily."

Although the words are cruel, they are very convincing.

At least Ikari Fumihiko was shaken.

"Better so."

The tough words revealed a deep sense of powerlessness.

What made him feel powerless was not his own incompetence, but...

I can understand the crazy behavior of these people.

No one knows when the Third Impact will come. We only know that if the Third Impact cannot be prevented, humanity will surely perish.

Such a situation——

Humans can no longer live as cleanly as they once did, nor do they have the ability to stay clean.

It was not that he was brainwashed into accepting this point of view, but the awareness shown by the people around him made him feel this.

When human nature becomes unreliable, animal nature is unleashed.

Taking a deep breath to relieve the anger in his heart, Fumihiko Ikari suppressed his confusion and hesitation and made a decision. He said to Yui Ikari and Professor Yamaki: "I have found the key to unlock the power of EVA. Minister, you can terminate the artificial pilot plan and stop this behavior that blasphemes life."

Terminating the research would not be friendly to the Lingbo-style clones, but not stopping it now would only cause the Lingbo-style clones to suffer more.

It is better to suffer a short pain than a long one.

After hearing this, everyone realized that the person in charge of the artificial pilot project research was not Fumihiko Ikari, the crazy genius.

Emotion made Ikari Yui want to accept the request made by Ikari Fumihiko, but her rationality as a scholar and her maternal instinct suppressed this impulse. Whether for the future of mankind or her son Ikari Shinji, a person in her position must always think rationally and not let her emotions affect her judgment. Therefore, she did not directly respond to Ikari Fumihiko's words but asked back.

"Please answer my question first. I just had a rejection reaction."

Without prior preparation, Fumihiko Ikari was unable to answer this question for a while, but he still made his own judgment based on the original plot.

"The link between humans and EVA is two-way, and there is no clear relationship of manipulator and manipulated between the two."

Ikari Yui was a little surprised. She asked this question just to let Ikari Fumihiko find the answer. She could also use this time to perfect the artificial pilot plan. If the problem of the short life cycle of clones could not be solved, the research and development of the artificial pilot plan could be abandoned. However, she did not expect that Ikari Fumihiko would give her a direct answer.

Ikari Fumihiko paused for a moment, sorted out his thoughts and continued.

"Who is the operator between the two is determined by the consciousness of both parties. In this regard, the human pilot has obvious flaws. They are as pure as a newborn baby, but they still have the dominant power for a long time. This also indirectly proves that Eva's own consciousness is weaker, and it may not even have a complete self-awareness, only the most basic biological instincts.

There is no longer any need for the human pilot program to continue.”

As he spoke, he quickly glanced at the experimental data, mainly the changes in synchronization rate.

"It will go berserk later. No! This is not a true berserk, but the synchronization rate has increased to 38.2%, deepening the mental connection between the driver and EVA, allowing the driver to clearly feel the pain of his arm being pierced, the abnormality of the back of his neck caused by the mechanical modification, and his internal organs being soaked in cold water...

These sensations stimulate the driver's mind, which in turn makes the EVA aware of the pain."

Feeling Ikari Fumihiko's terrifying talent that surpassed ordinary people, Ikari Yui truly saw the hope of mankind defeating the apostles.

I just breathed a sigh of relief, but then I became worried again.

It is a happy thing that humans have hope of defeating the apostles, but behind this lies the danger of the Human Completion Plan.

The Human Instrumentality Project seems to be aimed at eliminating the barriers between people and building a beautiful world of mutual understanding, but in fact it is a group of fanatics who want to return to the embrace of the Mother Goddess and... their own ambition to become gods! They don't want to become gods themselves, but to become gods by becoming a part of them.

Ikari Yui glanced at Ikari Fumihiko and immediately denied what she was thinking.

No...

This kind of casual and gentle personality is only suitable for academic research, and he lacks a lot of mental strength to compete with senior executives.

Ikari Fumihiko did not notice the change in Ikari Yui's mood, but he noticed that Professor Yamaki, who had always kept his back straight in the crowd, now had a hunched back. It looked like something heavy was pressing on his body, causing his cervical vertebrae to bend. He lost the strong momentum he had always displayed and became much more decadent.